The fundamental distinction between Analog Tuner and Digital Tuner is that the digital tuners function based on the digital signals whereas the analog tuners function on analog signals.
Summary
Analog TV relies on over-the-air broadcasting. Digital TV can be received either through over-the-air broadcasts or cable connections or satellite connections.
Analog Tuner vs Digital Tuner
The main difference between analog tuners and digital tuners is that Analog tuners were meant to decode analogue signals that are often broadcast over the air using RF energy. On the other hand, digital tuners were built to decode digital signals. The latter, on the other hand, was created to decode digital data.
Analog tuners were created to decode analogue signals that were broadcast via radio waves. Sound – visual impulses are sent over the airways by analogue televisions, just as they are by radio broadcasts. Analogue tuners were used in television sets when analogue television broadcasts were the norm.
A digital tuner is a device that allows a television to receive digital television (DTV) signals that are broadcast over-the-air by local television stations. DTV is the successor to analog television, and uses data compression techniques to allow more channels than could be fit into an analog frequency band. Television sets sold in the United States since March 1, 2007 must contain a digital tuner.
Comparison Table Between Analog Tuner and Digital Tuner
| Parameters of Comparison | Analog Tuner | Digital Tuner |
| Pictures that are more clear | This can cause static, snow, or ghosting on a channel, as well as changes in colour, brightness, and sound quality. | Because there is no congestion or signal degradation as with digital TV transmissions, you get a clear image every time, high-quality audio, and no static or snow. |
| Bandwidth | The bandwidth need for an analogue tuner is higher. | The digital tuner requires less bandwidth. |
| Description | Analog Tuners are used to decode analogue signals that are often broadcast over the air using radio frequency energy. | The purpose of a digital tuner is to decode digital information. |
| Quality of Image | Only SD resolution photos may be received by Analog Tuner. | With the aid of the Digital Tuner, high-resolution images may be acquired. |
| Transmission | Analog tuners deliver sound-visual impulses over the airways, just like radio transmissions. | The data is maintained as a sequence of 1s and 0s and is sent in packets by the digital tuner. |
What is Analog Tuner?
Analog tuner worked through a process known as amplitude modulation (AM) and frequency modulation (FM). Analog tuners were created to decode analogue signals that were broadcast via radio waves. Sound – visual impulses are sent over the airways by analogue televisions, just as they are by radio broadcasts.
Analog tuners are still available in some countries, but there is no longer a need for them anywhere analog broadcasts have ceased. Until they’re completely phased out, they will be necessary to receive analog transmissions in those places where they are still broadcast.
The tuner in the television is what takes in these signals and translates them into words and pictures on the screen. Though analog tuners work well for their intended purpose, they do have some disadvantages.
The human eye and ear cannot see or hear radio or television signals. An electronic device called a tuner is required to decode the radio signals into sound or visual images.
The sounds and visuals received from a television antenna are transmitted to the tuner – the device that decodes the input. The tuner then relays the signals to other components within the TV that produce sound and visual images.
Analogue TV broadcasting has been replaced by digital television broadcasting in most countries around the world and this has been in effect for more than a decade now. Digital TV broadcasting uses a different format of transmission which means that a different type of tuner is required to decode them.
What is Digital Tuner?
A digital tuner allows DTV signals to be received by your television set and displayed on your screen. A digital tuner is also called an ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) tuner or an HDTV (high-definition television) tuner. All TVs with a built-in digital tuner have a “DTV” sticker on the front of the TV or listed in the specifications.
A set-top box can be used to convert any television with an analog receiver into a digital receiver. The cable companies are also required to provide their customers with digital receivers or set-top boxes if they request them. These boxes do not affect reception of over-the-air channels in any way.
Digital tuners are also used in most new computer monitors, and some computer video cards have the hardware necessary to support HDTV resolutions using either HDMI or DisplayPort connections.
The newer HDTVs can display the high-definition content on their widescreen displays. A universal remote control can be programmed to control the tuner and all other devices in your home theater system.
The consumer electronics industry has not agreed on a single name for these devices, with manufacturers using “digital set-top box”, “digital media receiver”, “digital media streamer”, “digital TV tuner box”, and “digital television adapter” (abbreviated as DTA).
Main Differences Between Analog Tuner and Digital Tuner
- Analog tuners can cause static, snow, or ghosting on a channel, as well as changes in colour, brightness, and sound quality. As there is no congestion or signal loss with digital TV transmissions, digital tuners deliver a crisp picture every time, high-quality audio, and no static or snow.
- Pictures in SD resolution can only be received by analogue tuners, however images in HD resolution can be received by digital tuners.
- Analog tuners were used to decode analogue signals that were broadcast over the air through radio waves, whereas digital tuners were used to decode digital data.
- Analog televisions transmit audio and visual signals over the airwaves in the same manner as radio broadcasts do. Digital television energy, on the other hand, is sent as compressed packet data.
- Analog tuners consume more bandwidth than digital tuners and are thus less efficient.
Conclusion
The use of digital signals enables a digital television to feature image quality that is better than that of an analog TV. An analog TV displays blurry images resulting from interference from other signals, whereas a digital TV displays clear pictures.
Analog tuners are more susceptible to being affected by music and noise in the airwaves than digital ones. The use of digital technology ensures that the digital tuners are less sensitive to these forms of interference.